Leisure/Arts

Disney CEO says hackers threaten to release stolen upcoming film

Movie held for ransom likely either ‘Cars 3’ or new ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’

VCG via Getty Images

Disney CEO Robert Iger said the hackers have threatened to first release five minutes of the movie and then more in 20-minute chunks.

By

BenFritz

JoeFlint

A hacker or hackers claim to have stolen an unreleased film from Walt Disney Co. and threatened to release it online unless the company pays a ransom, Chief Executive Robert Iger told employees.

Speaking at a town hall for Disney’s ABC News division Monday where the topic of piracy was raised, Iger said Disney wouldn’t pay the ransom, according to a person who was present. Without saying how much was being demanded, this person added, Iger said the ransom was supposed to be delivered in bitcoin, the “virtual currency” that has become a favorite of people engaged in online extortion schemes.

He didn’t disclose what the movie was, the person said. The only two titles on Disney’s
DISN, +0.30%
summer release slate are “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” and “Cars 3.”

Both are big-budget franchise titles expected to gross more than $500 million at the global box office. If they were released online before they hit theaters, it could be a significant blow to Disney’s film business.

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